45271: Is it permissible to rent a café that offers “hubble-bubble pipes” in order to sell food?

There is a cafeteria in one of the casinos. Is it permissible for me to rent it in order to sell food? Please note that the cafeteria only offers tea and hubble-bubble pipes – what is the ruling on that?.

Published Date: 2004-05-22

Praise be to Allaah.

It seems that it is not permissible for you to rent this
place to serve food and drink, because smoking the hubble-bubble pipe is
haraam, as it is a waste of money and causes the Muslim to harm himself and
others who smell this foul smoke. See question no.
10922 and
7432.

The basic principle is that the Muslim should avoid these
places of sin and keep away from them, and he should not offer them any help
or serve things that will make people stay there longer such as permissible
food and drinks. Renting part of the casino in order to serve food to these
sinners goes against the command to the Muslims to change evil wherever he
sees it, and it goes against the command to avoid places of evil and sin.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this
Qur’aan) that when you hear the Verses of Allaah being denied and mocked at,
then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if
you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them”

[al-Nisa’ 4:140]

al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The words of Allaah, “then sit not with them, until they
engage in a talk other than that”, mean: something other than kufr.

“(but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you
would be like them” – this indicates that it is obligatory to avoid
sinners if they are openly committing evil, because whoever does not avoid
them is effectively approving of their actions.

Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 5/418

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Denouncing evil in one's
heart is obligatory for everyone. This means hating and despising the evil
action, and keeping away from those who do it if one is unable to change it
with one’s hand (by taking action) or with one's tongue (by speaking out
against it).

Al-Darar al-Sunniyyah fi’l-Ajwabah al-Najdiyyah,
16/142

Indeed, the owner should not rent out his stores to those who
will use them for sinful purposes.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez Aal al-Shaykh was asked:

My father bequeathed to me one-third of the rent of a
building that he owned. This building is rented out to stores, some of which
sell cigarettes and hubble-bubble pipes, and there is also a store that
sells music tapes. Is this bequest permissible or not? Please note that we
do not own anything else. May Allaah reward you with good.

He replied:

What you have to do is to evict these people, because selling
cigarettes and hubble-bubbles and music tapes are all things that go against
sharee’ah, and it is not permissible for the Muslim to help others in sin
and transgression. Allaah will compensate you with something better, in sha
Allaah, and you will be able to rent it and earn from it in such a way that
will benefit you and benefit the deceased, in sha Allaah.

Note that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah,
Allaah will compensate him with something better than it, and that provision
cannot be acquired by sinful means. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He
will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him.
Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure
for all things”